Japan Press Weekly

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2015 April 8 - 14 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Okinawans launch ‘Henoko Fund’ to block base construction

Okinawan politicians and business leaders have launched the “Henoko Fund” to help increase public opposition to the construction of a new U.S. base in the sea off the Henoko district, they announced at a press conference on April 9.

The fund is aimed at supporting activities to support a petition, submitted jointly by heads of all 41 local municipalities in Okinawa to the national government, which calls for cancellation of the base construction, withdrawal of U.S. Osprey aircraft from Okinawa, and removal of the U.S. Futenma base.

The fund will be used to post opinion advertisements in American and Japanese newspapers. Other specific activities will be discussed at a general meeting.

Local business heads representing the newly-established fund are Goya Morimasa
(Kanehide Holdings), Taira Choei (Kariyushi Group), and Nagahama Tokumatsu (Okinawa Ham). Co-representatives also include former Kadena Town Mayor Miyagi Tokujitsu. Okinawa Governor Onaga Takeshi is expected to become an advisor to the fund.

On April 8, about 160 residents and assembly members in Okinawa’s Chatan Town participated in a local rally to establish a town council to block the new U.S. base construction in Henoko.

Town Mayor Noguni Masaharu, Prefectural Assembly member Zukeran Isao, and other activists became co-representatives in the council.

Mayor Noguni expressed his hope that similar initiatives will be established in many other municipalities in the prefecture. He called for cooperation to be developed regardless of residents’ differences in thought and creed.